You mentioned comics so I wanted to add, that in a comic almost any character can become memorable if that character is written well. Swamp Thing was a D-list hero until Alan Moore wrote him. Daredevil was a bi-monthly about-to-be-canceled comic until Frank Miller wrote him. Wolverine was a D-list hero until Claremont and Byrne co-wrote him in the X-Men. On the other hand, Isom is memorable for how bad it was written.
I read a book once where I disliked every single character in the story. The two main characters were cheaters. The wife of the main male character was a witch (spelled with a "B"). Their son was a mama's boy and their daughter was a non-entity. The primary villains in the story (that only showed up in the second half of the book) were more interesting than the rest of the cast, but made my skin crawl (admittedly, that can be considered a plus for a villain). The book itself was interesting that it kept me reading to the end, I just disliked everyone in the story.
Unless I hear someone discuss it, some stories stay stuffed in the back of my brain. (Polaris Rising) Overall story that's memorable: The Thomas Covenant series by Stephen R Donaldson. Memorable because my first therapist spotted one of these books in my backpack and said "The first thing you need to do is stop reading that without medication." 😆I did finish that series, and refuse to revisit it. Once was more than enough. The Kate Daniels series. Kate's been raised for a specific purpose--to delete her biological father, a powerful wizard. Her story is one I re-read at least once a year. (Plus all the side novels) I love the magic system, and the fact that vampires are mindless monsters, piloted around by necromancers. Magic comes and goes in waves, which adds an element of uncertainty to the stories that I like. The Dresden Files. Harry is another wizard who's story I re-read once or more a year. Fantastic storytelling. Harry's attitude and devotion to his friends and found family is always a good time. The Iron Druid Chronicles. Unlike the above series, the magics and gods of all faiths are valid in these stories. Atticus (the iron druid) can converse with Irish deities, and still share dinner and a beer with Jesus. The open love of nature and focus on balance and kindness is nice. Characters that are memorable: Fred the Undead Accountant. Attacked on his way home from the grocery, Fred didn't see any reason to change his career after becoming a vampire. As a rule, I avoid most vampire stories, having been burned out on them for years. Fred became the exception. He's a genuinely kind person. He treats his vampirism like a medical condition, and he somehow manages to solve a lot of his problems through paperwork. It's refreshing reading and often hilarious. I stopped with Fred because this is already too long. Character types As plot devices/tools: These are the hard science writers like Asimov--the story doesn't require deep characterization. (Larry Niven's Ringworld is another example) Classical science fiction makes the technology the main focus. As explorations of the author's psyche: I think all authors do this to some degree. Characters can embody elements from the authors life, or the story will mirror aspects the author wants to explore. I've never read Brett Easton Ellis, but I do think Stephen King does similar. Adrien Tchaikovsky focuses on instilling empathy, and he's very good at it in Children of Time. We Need to Talk About Kevin is an exploration, too. As 'themselves': When a character is well written, it's not hard to think of them as real people. That's just good writing. Creative minds don't have to follow a script or formula. Seanan McGuire's October Daye series is like this. Harry Dresden, Atticus O'Sullivan, Kate Daniels, Joey from Bodymore, are all in this category. I don't agree with authors who look down on other writers who are more invested in their creations. That's the beauty of writing, there's no one way to do it, just as there's no one way to paint. I have had long arguments with writing teachers over that subject, each one trying to convince me that seeing a character as more than words on a page is a sign of mental illness. All I can conclude after ten years of being around writers is that as long as your end result is a good story, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. Good video. Thank you for making my Saturday thoughtful.
Hello everyone it's me, the guy who watches Ian videos! A memorable character is like 80% of how you react to a story in general. If you hate the story but love the character portrayals, the book can still be tolerable. If you love the story but DESPISE or even worse find the characters boring and bland, then it's going to be a drag to get through the book. Them's my two cents!
The image is meant to make you question whether you're witnessing abuse or trespassing on a moment of intimacy, but the photo itself is called "orgasmic man" by photographer Peter Hujar.
I think i like characters that are weird in a funny way, or very memorable with some reason that is memorizing, that also is probably funny ir intruiging. And usually flawed. And Have a character. Aside from characters that are great because emotional reasons good or bad. That are just good character writing. Like characters being annoying can be really good writing. That said i love just fun good and sometimes characters with them being explored i can just vibe with. That are flawed. That feel human. Or very funny in poignant moments. But also humor can be a really good way to ad character if you do it in a decent way, i think good humor can make characters really memorable done well, or them very human in some way, in a positive or negative way. . God negative frustrating human is just a good way to make a great villain that hate for can help so much. I guess good writer can usually tab into emotions and humot really good to add into characterizing sneaky XD Having a good time too while having some strong characterization. Ok i value well done humor. Hell the necrotown reading was fun despite the frustrating. Maybe some people find it fun without added well done humor. Why would you make your MC the worst violent awful person without levity and balance in an an wasening background why? At least admit you play as a terrible person who sucks and is pathetic?
You mentioned comics so I wanted to add, that in a comic almost any character can become memorable if that character is written well. Swamp Thing was a D-list hero until Alan Moore wrote him. Daredevil was a bi-monthly about-to-be-canceled comic until Frank Miller wrote him. Wolverine was a D-list hero until Claremont and Byrne co-wrote him in the X-Men. On the other hand, Isom is memorable for how bad it was written.
I read a book once where I disliked every single character in the story. The two main characters were cheaters. The wife of the main male character was a witch (spelled with a "B"). Their son was a mama's boy and their daughter was a non-entity. The primary villains in the story (that only showed up in the second half of the book) were more interesting than the rest of the cast, but made my skin crawl (admittedly, that can be considered a plus for a villain). The book itself was interesting that it kept me reading to the end, I just disliked everyone in the story.
Unless I hear someone discuss it, some stories stay stuffed in the back of my brain. (Polaris Rising)
Overall story that's memorable: The Thomas Covenant series by Stephen R Donaldson. Memorable because my first therapist spotted one of these books in my backpack and said "The first thing you need to do is stop reading that without medication." 😆I did finish that series, and refuse to revisit it. Once was more than enough.
The Kate Daniels series. Kate's been raised for a specific purpose--to delete her biological father, a powerful wizard. Her story is one I re-read at least once a year. (Plus all the side novels) I love the magic system, and the fact that vampires are mindless monsters, piloted around by necromancers. Magic comes and goes in waves, which adds an element of uncertainty to the stories that I like.
The Dresden Files. Harry is another wizard who's story I re-read once or more a year. Fantastic storytelling. Harry's attitude and devotion to his friends and found family is always a good time.
The Iron Druid Chronicles. Unlike the above series, the magics and gods of all faiths are valid in these stories. Atticus (the iron druid) can converse with Irish deities, and still share dinner and a beer with Jesus. The open love of nature and focus on balance and kindness is nice.
Characters that are memorable: Fred the Undead Accountant. Attacked on his way home from the grocery, Fred didn't see any reason to change his career after becoming a vampire. As a rule, I avoid most vampire stories, having been burned out on them for years. Fred became the exception. He's a genuinely kind person. He treats his vampirism like a medical condition, and he somehow manages to solve a lot of his problems through paperwork. It's refreshing reading and often hilarious.
I stopped with Fred because this is already too long.
Character types
As plot devices/tools: These are the hard science writers like Asimov--the story doesn't require deep characterization. (Larry Niven's Ringworld is another example) Classical science fiction makes the technology the main focus.
As explorations of the author's psyche: I think all authors do this to some degree. Characters can embody elements from the authors life, or the story will mirror aspects the author wants to explore. I've never read Brett Easton Ellis, but I do think Stephen King does similar. Adrien Tchaikovsky focuses on instilling empathy, and he's very good at it in Children of Time. We Need to Talk About Kevin is an exploration, too.
As 'themselves': When a character is well written, it's not hard to think of them as real people. That's just good writing. Creative minds don't have to follow a script or formula. Seanan McGuire's October Daye series is like this. Harry Dresden, Atticus O'Sullivan, Kate Daniels, Joey from Bodymore, are all in this category.
I don't agree with authors who look down on other writers who are more invested in their creations. That's the beauty of writing, there's no one way to do it, just as there's no one way to paint. I have had long arguments with writing teachers over that subject, each one trying to convince me that seeing a character as more than words on a page is a sign of mental illness. All I can conclude after ten years of being around writers is that as long as your end result is a good story, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.
Good video. Thank you for making my Saturday thoughtful.
Hello everyone it's me, the guy who watches Ian videos!
A memorable character is like 80% of how you react to a story in general. If you hate the story but love the character portrayals, the book can still be tolerable.
If you love the story but DESPISE or even worse find the characters boring and bland, then it's going to be a drag to get through the book.
Them's my two cents!
Dalin sure is a character.
🤣🤣🤣 I can not forget the Kool-Aide Man.
I thought A Little Life had a man in pain or crying on the cover.
The image is meant to make you question whether you're witnessing abuse or trespassing on a moment of intimacy, but the photo itself is called "orgasmic man" by photographer Peter Hujar.
@@KirkpattieCake that’s weird
Don’t know why you think Joe is that difficult. My last ex was like 10 Joes
Mostly feedback from readers lol.
@@KirkpattieCake Must not be cat people lol
I think i like characters that are weird in a funny way, or very memorable with some reason that is memorizing, that also is probably funny ir intruiging. And usually flawed. And Have a character.
Aside from characters that are great because emotional reasons good or bad. That are just good character writing. Like characters being annoying can be really good writing.
That said i love just fun good and sometimes characters with them being explored i can just vibe with. That are flawed. That feel human. Or very funny in poignant moments.
But also humor can be a really good way to ad character if you do it in a decent way, i think good humor can make characters really memorable done well, or them very human in some way, in a positive or negative way. . God negative frustrating human is just a good way to make a great villain that hate for can help so much. I guess good writer can usually tab into emotions and humot really good to add into characterizing sneaky XD
Having a good time too while having some strong characterization. Ok i value well done humor. Hell the necrotown reading was fun despite the frustrating. Maybe some people find it fun without added well done humor. Why would you make your MC the worst violent awful person without levity and balance in an an wasening background why? At least admit you play as a terrible person who sucks and is pathetic?